Container filling apparatus and method



May 25 1965 P. E. LUTHER 3,185,187

CONTAINER FILLING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed May 7, 1962 4 sheets-sheet 1 May 25, 1955 P. E. LUTHER 3,185,187

CONTAINER FILLING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed May 7. 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Tia-2- T5-7%- P401. arf/ER T TRNE YS May 25, 1965 P. E. LUTHER CONTAINER FILLING APPARATUS AND METHOD i 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 7, 1962 May 25,v 1965 P. E. LUTHER 3,185,187

.CONTAINER FILLING APPARATUS AND METHOD v1/EN Tw? PAUL E LUTHER A TTR/VEYS United States Patent O 5,187 CNTAENER FEELING APPARATUS ANB MEE-i6@ Fanl E. Luther, akland, Calif. (3%873 Vanderbilt St., Hayward, Calif.) Filed May 7, 1962, Ser. No. H2529 6 Gamas. (Cl. foil-7) This invention relates to devices and Imethods of adding liquid such as juice or syrup to containers previously filled with solid or `semi-solid material such as fruit, and is particularly directed to improved apparatus and a method of this variety for emciently accomplishing the filling operation with materially increased throughput of the containers.

Apparatus for filling cans `or the like containers with liquid after fruits or similar products have been packed therein are well known and extensively employed in the canning industry. In this connection reference may be had to my U.S. Patent No. 2,837,127, which issued lune 3, 1958, and which discloses an apparatus and method for accomplishing the foregoing purpose in automatic fashion with a high container throughput. Basically, the prior invention accomplishes the filling operation by moving a series of containers with their open ends uppermost along a. horizontal conveyor while moving a plurality of filler valves each having a sealing head in a horizontal plane overlying the plane of the conveyor. The valves are sequentially lowered during their horizontal movement to engage the cans with movement of the valve heads continuing downward to enter the containers and open the valves. The valves all communicate with an overlying tank containing the liquid such that when the valves are open the liquid flows by gravity feed into the containers. During the times the valves are open, their heads are intermittently raised and suddenly dropped to thereby jar the fruit or other solid objects packed in the containers and expunge air trapped in the interstices between the objects. Filling of all the interstices with liquid is thus insured. Following filling of the containers to the desired level with liquid, the valves are automatically raised and closed.

Although my previous filling apparatus and method referenced hereinabove facilitates -a satisfactory throughput of containers, I have found that a marked increase in this throughput is attained by modifying the lling cycle so as to provide for evacuation of air from the container prior to the liquid filling thereof. Thereafter liquid is initially introduced into the containers under a subatmospheric pressure, followed by a gravity feed of liquid. Such preliminary air evacuation of the containers virtual ly prevents the formation of air pockets during the filling process so as to permit elimination of the intermittent tamping process previously employed, and application of vacuum pressure during the initial liquid filling of the containers also materially increases the rate of liquid flow. In this manner the containers may be caused to move through :the lling lmeans at a substantially greater speed than was practicable heretofore.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus and method for filling containers with liquid at `a materially increased container throughput.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved apparatus and method for filling containers with liquid in which the container filling cycle comprises an air evacuation period, a vacuum feed period and a gravity feed period.

It is another object of the present invention to provide apparatus for the filling of containers packed with solid product with liquid in which the air in such containers is evacuated therefrom prior to the introduction of'liquid Fice thereinto whereby the formation of air pockets during the is especially designed and constructed so as to materially simplify and expedite cleaning of the apparatus in `order to maintain sanitary standards.

It is a -still further object of the present invention to provide improved container feed means which is adapted to relieve line pressure exerted on the containers as the Y supply thereof builds up on the feed conveyor and to selectively separate and position such containers so that they may be introduced onto the filler conveyor in properly timed sequence.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improved apparatus and method for filling containers with liquid having air evacuating means which is4 yFIGURE 1 is la top plan view of the apparatus of thev present invention with portions broken away for clearer illustration.

FiGURE 2 is a vertical cross-.sectional View taken onV the line 2 2 of FIGURE l showing the position of the parts during the cycle portion in which evacuation of air from a container is being effected.

vFIGURE 3 is another vertical cross-sectional View, taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE l, and illustrating the position of the pants during the cycle portion whereinw liquid is introduced into a container under vacuum.

FIGURE 4 is a portional side elevational View on an enlarged scale and with portions broken away further illustrating the vacuum means of FIGURES 2 and 3.

FiGURE 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of FIGURE 1 illustrating the means by which the vacuum lines are purged.

FIGURE 6 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken substantially on the plane of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is 4a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on the line 7 7 of FIGURE 1 illustrating liquid collecting means.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of FIGURE 1 illustrating the shoe 1ubricating means.

rFiGURE 9 is a diagrammatic representation of thevalve head control cam mechanism laid out along astraight line.

Referring now to the drawings, particularly FIGURE 1 thereof, the container filling apparatus of the invention is seen to include conveying means 11 which carries cans t or similar containers 12 which may be filled with substantially `solid pieces of food, such as fruit or the like,

along a horizontal plane at a uniform rate of speed to a filling means 113. The filling means introduces a liquid such as syrup or juice yto the containers which are then removed from the apparatus by take-Gif means 14.

The tilling means comprises a substantially vertically` disposed rotatable cylindrical tank or bowl 16 having a Patented May 25, 1965V bottom 17 and sides 18 which contains the liquid that is subsequently introduced into the containers 12. The bottom of the bowl is provided -adjacent its periphery at regularly circumferentially spaced intervals with a plurality of valves 19 mounted in openings 21 and which are controlled in a manner and by means subsequently described. Disposed subjacent the bowl and operatively connected thereto is a rotatable circular platform 22 to which is rigidly secured in Vertical spaced relation a main star wheel 23 provided at .its periphery with a plurality of substantially semi-circular notches or openings 24. The containers 12 rest upon the platform 22 and are partially encircled by the openings of the main star wheel which engage the containers at a point intermediate their heights and the rotation of the star wheel and platform in synchronism with the tank maintains the containers in a Afixed position while in the lling means 13. The semicircular openings 24 of the main star wheel, moreover, are disposed in alignment with the valves 19 such that the containers during the liquid iilling process are held in stationary alignment with and beneath the valves.

` Provision is made to rotate the bowl 16, platform 22, and star wheel 23 together at a uniform rate of speed and when a container 12 has been carried by the conveying means 11 to a pickup station 25 an opening 24 of the star wheel engages the container and rotates it with the platform and bowl for somewhat more than 300 degrees. During this conveyance of the container the valves are controllably operated to dispense liquid from the tank 16 to the containers and to accomplish other operations requisite to the lling process later to be described. Subsequent to lling and at the end of the rotary conveyance of the container it reaches a discharge station 27 and is picked up and carried away by the take-off means 14.

It should be noted that the filling apparatus broadly described above is to this pointidentical to that disclosed in my previously referenced U.S. Patent No; 2,837,127. Heretofore, however, the valves were 'arranged to controllably introduce liquid from the tank or bowl to the containers by gravity feed during their rotary conveyance and provision was made to intermittently tamp the pieces of fruit or other solid articles in the container several times with the heads of the valves in alternation with the liquid dispensing in order to expunge trapped air from the interstices between the articles. It will be appreciated that the time consumed in filling the containers according to such process is inherently long and the container throughput is limited because of the relative slowness of the gravity feed liquid ilow and the repeated alternation of the lling and tamping operations. Therefore, I have improved the basic `filling apparatus and method of my prior patent to the ends of effecting more rapid and eilicient air evacuation and filling of containers whereby a much higher container throughput may be attained. In accordance with the present invention I now apply vacuum pressure during specied periods of valve operation. More particularly, when a container enters the lling means at the pick up station 26 and a valve 19 is lowered to an intermediate position in sealing engagement with such container, vacuum pressure is operative to remove air from the container. The valve then descends to a lowermost position to effect the opening thereof and the vacuum pressure is held for a selected period of time so that the liquid lling of the container is initially accomplished by means of vacuum feed. Vacuum pressure then is discontinued so that subsequent filling of the container is by gravity ow. Shortly before the container reaches the discharge station 27 the valve is raised to an uppermost closed position and vacuum is again applied to the valve in order to clear the vacuum lines of any liquid that Imay have collected therein.

In order Ito accomplish the improved filling method of the present invention as brieiiy outlined above, the valves 19 are controlled by a cam mechanism 28 which is broadly similar to that of my above referenced patent andincludes a pair of stationary cams 29 and 31. The cam 29 encircles the bowl 16 a peripheral dist-ance of approximately 320 in radial spaced relation thereto, while the cam 31 is disposed along a plane subjacent that of the cam 29 and extends for at least the 49 of arc not covered by the cam 29. A lower and upper cam surface 32 and 33 are provided on the cams 29 and 31 respectively and yare engaged by a plurality of rollers 34, each of which is operatively associated with a different one of the valves l() 19 `to effect the operation thereof.

Broadly speaking, the cam surface 32 is designed to engage the upper peripheral portion of a roller to urge the roller and its associated valves downwardly to the intermediate valve position for sealing engagement with the l5 container as well as to the lowermost position for opening of the valve. Conversely, cam surface 33 is arranged to engage the lowermost peripheral portion of a roller to effect ascension of the roller and its valve whereby the valve .is raised to its uppermost closed position out of engagement with the container.

Considering now the detailed construction of the valves 19 to the ends of producing the operative cycle noted hereinbefore, and referring to FIGURES 2V, 3 and 5, it will be noted that each valve includes a cylindrical valve housing 36 slidably mounted in a sleeve 37 vertically disposed in one of the holes 21 in the bottom of the tank 16. A sealing ring 38 is provided at the lower extremity of the sleeve in order to provide lubrication between the housing and sleeve by means of the liquid in the bowl and yet prevent leakage therefrom. A valve head 39 is coaxially rigidly secured to theV lower end of each housing, and a container sealing member 14 is inV turn concentrically disposed about the head in vertically slidable relation thereto. The sealing member is flanged at its lower end as indicated at 42 and provided with a sealing gasket 43 for engagement with the beads of the containers 12. The upper interior of the sealing member, moreover, is bevelled to define a valve seat 44 which is engageable with the valve head 39. In order that the valve seat be normally engaged by the head, a spring 46 is disposed between the sealing member and the lower end of the housing, such spring acting to urge the sealing member seat and head towards each other and therefore into closed engagement (FIGURE 2). However, when the sealing member contacts the rim of a container and is thus supported thereon, it will be appreciated that movement of the valve housing, and therefore the head rigidly secured thereto, against the pressure of the spring opens the valve (FIGURE 3). Vertical movement of the valve housings hence facilitates engagement of the containers by the sealing members as well as opening and closing of the valves. Appropriate controlled movement of the housings is transmitted thereto from the rollers 34 as now described.

Each roller 34 is secured to a vertical post 47 by means of a bolt 48 passing axially through the roller into the post in threaded engagement therewith. The bolt 48 is frictionally engaged by one end of a rod 49 disposed within the axial bore of the post 47 in order to prevent rotation of the bolt with the roller. Tight frictional engagement of the bolt by the rod is maintained by means of a plug 51 threadedly secured in the lower end of the post bore and in bearing relation against the distal end of the rod. The posts 47 are slidably mounted in sleeves 52 secured to the tank by means of bracket extensions 53 extending radially outwardly from the bottom 17 of the tank and disposed between the sides 118 thereof and the inner peripheries of the cams 29 and 31. in radially opposed relation to the respective valves. The lower extremity of each post 47 carries a horizontally disposed yokey member 54 l whose forked end is engaged between a pair of spaced iianges 56 and 57 provided on the lower end of each valve housing 35. Further provided on the yoke member is a dog 55 engageable with a cutout portion on the flange 57 whereby rotation of the Valve housing relative to the yoke 7 5 member is prevented. A spring 5S encircling each post position as illustrated in FIGURE 5. As the roller leaves cam 31, biasing action of the spring 53 insures descension of the valve and roller as well as providing a cushioning means during translation of the roller from the upper cam surface 33 of cam 31 to the lower cam surface 32 of the cam 29. Thus, it will be seen that as the tank is rotated the valves will be caused to move vertically in accordance with the cycle of operation outlined above through the associated rollers engaging the cam surfaces 32 and 33.

Considering now the vacuum means as utilized in conjunction with the operation of the valves, such means will be seen to comprise a stationary air evacuation shoe 59 and line purging shoe 61 each having a passage 62 and 63 respectively provided therein. A circular outwardly flared follower rim 64 is rigiy carried by the tank i6 in overlying abutting relation to the shoes 59 and 61. The follower rim is provided with a plurality of ports 66, one being communicably associated with each valve 19 and arranged to communicate with the passages 62 and 63 of the respective shoes in the proper timed sequence to effect evacuation of air from the containers, partial vacuum filling thereof and purging the vacuum lines.

More specifically, it will be seen that each valve head 39 is provided with a centrally disposed, vertically emending bore 67 which terminates in the area of the conically shaped lower portion of the valve head. Radiating from the bore 67 are a plurality of smaller passages 63 which extend to the outer periphery of the valve head 39 subjacent the valve seat whereby such passages are in cornmunication with the container interior when the valve is disposed in either its intermediate, container sealing position or its lowermost, open position.

Communication between the valve and rim follower is had by means of a tube 69 threadedly secured in the bore 67 and extending vertically upwardly through and supported by a liquid return pipe '71 of the valve 19. Since the valves are vertically movable it is necessary to use lengths of flexible tubing 72 to connect the tubes 69 to the ports 66 of the rim follower. Considering now the preferred arrangement of the rim follower 64, it will be seen that each port 66 comprises a vertically disposed passage 73 in communication with a horizontally disposed bore 74 and is coterminous with the under surface 76 of the rim follower. Each bore 74 extends radially from the inner to the outer periphery of the rim follower whereby the rim is secured to the tank wall 18 at the top thereof as by bolts 77 engaging the threaded bore portion adjacent the inner rim periphery while the flexible tubing connector 78 is engaged by the threaded portion adjacent the outer rim periphery. In order to provide a liquid tight seal at the connection of the rim to the tank wall, a plastic seal 79 is inserted in the bore 74 between the end of the bolt 77 and the passage 73. Such seal is preferably of the type that may be inserted in a semi-liquid form to subsequently expand upon hardening whereby a permanently tight seal is assured.

The ports 66 of the follower rim are successively connected to the passages 62 and 63 of the air evacuation shoe and line purging shoe during the tank rotation and in appropriate relation to the valve operation effected by the cam mechanism. In this respect it will be seen that the shoes 59 and 61 comprise stationary arcuate plates Si and 82 respectively disposed radially outward from the tank and in close engagement with the rim 64. As illustrated in FIGURE l the shoe 59 commences at a point substantially common with the pick up station 26 and extends around the bowl in the direction of rotation for approximately 90 degrees. The passage 62 of the air evacuation shoe is provided as a groove in the upper surface of the plate S1 and'communicates with the rim ponts 66 as they successively pass over the plate during tank rotation so that vacuum is applied through the passages 68 in the corresponding valve head to its associated container. The passage 62 extends overa predetermined angular distance ofthe plate and is followed by a flat surface portion S3 of the plate which extends overa further predetermined angular distance and when contacted by the ports 66 closes them to hold the vacuum in the containers. After the ports 66 surpass the plate, they are open to atmosphere and vacuum in the containers is hence released. In like manner the air evacuation shoe 61 commences a predetermined angular distance from the discharge station 27 at which point the valves 19 have been raised out of communica-tion with the containers and extends around the bowl in the direction of rotation for substantially degrees. The passage 63 in the line purging shoe is in the form of a groove provided in the upper surface of the plate similar to the passage 62 in the air evacuation shoe but extends for substantially the full arc of the plate 82. The rim ponts 66 also communicate with the passage 63 as they pass over the plate during rotation of the tank so that vacuum is again applied through the passages 68 in the valve heads which are now in direct communication with the atmosphere. As shown in FIGURE l, the shoes 59 and 61 are incommunication with a source of vacuum S4 through a collector 86 by means or' suitable piping 87 and S6 respectively.

It is yof importance to note that the -system is operablev even under Iminimum vacuum conditions. Ecient operation of the system at such a low pressure is possible due to the fact that the cross sectional areas of the passages constituting the vacuum line from the valve head1 39 to the vacuum source 84 are successively larger. Thus' the radial passages 68 in the valve heads may be Ms in" diameter while the vertical passage therein increases to4 1A diameter to provide a cross sectional area greater than that of the combined radial passages. The vertical passage then opens into la yet larger one to the vacuum' source. In this manner the air pulled from the container moves into constantly larger passages so that the air may. -be rapidly evacuated from the containers at a very low vacuum pressure. It is important to note in this respect that previous systems have required a vacuum pressure of approximately 25 pounds and a pressure drop below 20 pounds renders such `systems inoperative to evacuate air from the containers.

Referring now to FIGURE 9 ofthe drawing in connection with the interrel-ation of the above described operations, a zero point represents a radial line through the Ibowl midway of the pick up and discharge station such as the line S4 of FIGURE l. At this point a roller 34 will be riding on a raised horizontal portion A of theV cam 31, its associated valve 19 will be likewise in an up-` permost inoperative position and vacuum will be applied to the valve through the passage of the shoe 61 to clear the vacuum line of liquid. After the Ibowl rotates for" approximately 5 degrees beyond the zero point, the rim port 66 associated with the valve will have surpassed thev passage 63 of the line purging shoe. Shortly thereafterV at approximately 1G degrees of rotation the roller is forced 'f downwardly by the downslope B of cam 29 causing the valve to descend towards the container about to be introduced into the filling means. While the valve is still descending, at about '30 degrees from the zero point, 'vacuum is again applied to the valve, this time through the passage in the air evacuation shoe 59. At the 35 degreeposition the roller will engage the portion C of the cam 29 and the valve will be lowered to its intermediate container sealing position. It will thus lbe seen that vacuum has been applied to the valve for a predetermined period before the valve seats on the container so that the vacuum pressure may be immediately effective upon engagement of the valve with the container to evacuate air therefrom. Air evacuation of the container continues to approximate- 1y the 95 position while the roller 34 rides along the horizontal'portion C of the cam 29. For substantially the following 5 degrees of rotation the roller is further depressed by engaging the downslope D of the cam to lower the valve -to its lowermost open position, and at the 100 position the port 66 commences to ride over the fiat portion 83 of the shoe S9 whereby the vacuum pressure in the containers is maintained to effect vacuum feed of the liquid thereinto. Vacuum pressure is thus held until the roller has rotated to about the 115 position atwhich point the port 66 passes beyond the shoe 59 and the vacuum is released. The roller follows the horizontal surface from substantially the 100 degree position to the 283 degree position of bowl rotation and gravity filling of the containers occurs from approximately 115 degrees to 280 degrees. The roller thereupon engages the inclined surface F of the cam 31 to close the valve and raise it out of engagement with the container. With the seal between the valve and container broken the port 66 comes into communication with the passage in the shoe 61 at the 285 position to commence the line purging operation. When the bowl has rotated 330 degrees the roller will again be riding on the surface A of the cam and the valve will be disposed in its uppermost inoperative position.

As previously mentioned the shoes 59 and 61 are stationarily mounted adjacent the bowl and as the mounting means for both shoes are identical only that of the shoe 59 will be described. Referring to FIGURES 4 and 5 of the drawings the shoe will be seen to be spring mounted on a horizontally disposed support plate S9 which is in turn adjustably carried by support member 91 mounted on the upper surface of the cam 29. More specifically a plurality of collared guide rods 92 depend from the undersurface of the shoe and extend through centrally disposed openings 93 in bushings94 suitably provided in the support plate. Each rod 92 is encircled by a spring 96 the final coils of which are anchored in place by the collar of the guide rod 92 and the bushing 94. The support plate is carried by the brackets 91 in spaced relation thereto as by depending rods 97 secured to the plate and having their threaded free ends passing through bores in the brackets. Nuts 98 threaded onto the ends of the rods on either side of the brackets adjustably locks the support plate in position relative to the shoe. From the foregoing it Will be apparent that spring tensioning of the shoe relative to the follower rim 64 may be selectively varied by adjusting the nuts-98 up or down on the rods 97.

It is further important to note that in order to provide an adequate seal between the shoe and follower rim, the shoe must not extend for more than a distance of 90 degrees of arc about the bowl. A shoe of greater length has a tendency to warp despite spring tensioning means utilized to overcome same.

Lubrication means are additionally provided to facilitate passage of the follower rim 64 over the shoes. Referring to FIGURE 8 such means Will be seen to comprise a spray head 99 connected as by a pipe 101 to a source of water and arranged to spray a mist of water on the undersurfaee of the rim during rotation thereof. As illustrated in FIGURE 1 the spray head 99 may best be located adjacent the air evacuation shoe 61 to the end that that the portion of the rim about to pass over'the shoe will be lubricated just prior to such passage.

- It will be understood that syrup may be pulled into the vacuum lines during the vacuum operations of the filling cycle. Syrup thus located in the ports 66 of the followerrim is likely to drip therefrom during the gravity filling operation when the ports are exposed to the atmosphere. In the interest of sanitation such drippings are contained in a drip pan 102 mounted subjacent the follower rim and extending between the two shoes 59 and 61 in the region where gravity filling of the containers takes place. As illustrated in FIGURES 7 and 8, the drip pan is inclined downwardly and a drain pipe 103 is located at the lowermost end so that the drippings are carried away by gravity iiow into the drain pipe.

. Considering now the conveying means 11 by which containers are supplied to the filling means 13, such means will be seen to comprise a conveyor belt 104 which carries the containers from a source of supply (not shown) to a small star wheel 106 provided with semicircular opening 107 in its periphery which picks the cans off the conveyor belt and carries them to the filling means 13. As seen in FIGURE 1 an adjustable guide bar 108 is mounted above and overlying one Yside of the conveyor belt 104 while a short stationary guide bar 109 and a variable progressive pitch worm 111 overlie the other side of the conveyor. The containers 12 are maintained in alignment on the conveyor belt 104 while they pass between the adjustable guide member 108 and the stationary guide bar 109.

When they are carried past the guide bar 109, they engage the first wrap of the worm 111.

It will be noted that the conveying means broadly described above is to this point identical to that disclosed in my above referenced patent and reference may be had thereto for a more detailed description of the conveyor mechanism. In addition the adjustable guide bar of my prior patent was provided with a coil spring positioned opposite the worm which served to deflect a container that became engaged by the first wrap of the worrn and resiliently urge it back against the worm. While such an arrangement was, in general, adequate to control the feed of containers to the worm, it was found that as containers buld up on the conveyor from the source of supply, the line pressure may be great enough to force the leading container forward with the first wrap of the worm this causing jambing and deformation of the containers.A

Therefore, I have improved the conveyor means of my prior patent whereby containers will be prevented from becoming engaged with wrap of the worm regardless of the line pressure being exerted from behind. To this end I have provided the adjustable guide bar 108 with a coil spring 112 mounted in a cutout portion 113 thereof. As seen in FIGURE l, the first wrap is approximately opposite the longitudinal center of the spring so that a half portion 114 of the spring is opposite the worm while the other half portion 116 of the spring is opposite the stationary guide bar 109. A longitudinally adjustable spring retaining bar 117 is mounted on the adjustable guide bar and bears against the portion 114 of the spring whereby appreciable deflection of the spring is prevented opposite the worm. The spring portion 116 opposite the stationary guide bar, however, is not contacted by the spring retaining bar 117 and hence may be deflected by a container. Therefore as line pressure builds up as containers pile up adjacent the first Wrap of the worm, the spring portion 116 may be deflected to relieve the pressure. The bar 117 positioned against the spring portion 114 however reduces the resiliency thereof so that containers will be forced backwards on the conveyor relative to the direction of travel thereof when the first wrap is adjacent the containers. When the wrap has rotated out of the path of travel the container is then able to resume its forward movement on the conveyor in proper timing to be removed therefrom by the small star wheel forintroduction into the filling means 13.

As previously mentioned the spring retaining bar is longitudinally adjustable so that when containers of a dierent diameter are to be fed into the filling means the spring 112 will be effective to control the proper feeding of the containers and at the same time relieve line pressure. To this end the adjustable guide member 108 is provided with a longitudinally extending slot 118 adapted to receive for selective movement therein a threaded extension 119 provided on the spring retaining bar 117. A bolt 121 engageable with the threads of the extension secure the guide member 10S and bar 117 together. In such. manner, when containers of large diameters are being used the bar 117 may be adjusted toward the filling means whereby the resilient portion 116 is increased so as to adequately relieve line pressure while still controlling the rate of feed of containers to the worm. Conversely, when containers vof smaller diameter are being fed onto the conveyor the bar 117 may be adjusted away from the lling means as necessary.

What is claimed is:

1. Liquid filling apparatus comprising a tank having a horizontal disposed bottom portion with a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings therein, a valve housing in communication with said tank mounted for sliding Vertical movement in each of said openings, a communieating sealing member depending from each valve housing and vertically slidable relative thereto, a valve head rigidly secured to each housing and disposed within said sealing member for sealing engagement therewith, spring means normally urging each sealing member and housing apart to retain the valve head in sealing engagement with the sealing member and adapted to yield to open said sealing member when said sealing member and housing are moved together, means for rotating said tank about a vertical axis, means for conveying a plurality of containers along a horizontal path in vertical alignment with said sealing member, said path extending arcuately from a pick up point to a take-off point, a plurality of cam rollers, means positioned exteriorly of said tank operatively connecting each of said cam rollers to said respective valve housings, a stationary peripheral cam extending about said tank, a cam surface in engagement with said cam rollers of a configuration to controllably raise and lower said valve housings and sealing members into sealing eng-agement with containers conveyed along said path and to engage and disengage said valve heads relative to said sealing members, means in said valve heads dening air passages opening at the lower end regions of the heads, a vacuum source, a first vacuum control means for controllably connecting said air passages to said vacuum means when said sealing members are in initial engagement with the rims of containers and the valve heads are in sealing engagement with the sealing members, to close said passage when said valve heads are initially in their open operable position disengaged from the sealing members, and subsequently venting the passages to atmosphere, a second vacuum control means for controllably connecting said vacuum source to said passages when the valve heads are closed in sealing engagement with the sealing members and thev sealing members are raised out of engagement with the containers.

2. Liquid lilling apparatus according to claim -l in which said means connecting each of said rollers to said valve housing includes a vertically slidable member, a pin journalled in said slidable member, said roller being freely rotatably mounted on said pin, means secured to said slidable member and adjustably engageable with said pin to prevent rota-tion thereof, a yoke member connecting said slidable member to said valve housing, means carried by said yoke member and engageable with said valve housing whereby rot-ation of the housing is prevented, means supporting said slidable member for sliding movement, and resilient means disposed between said yoke member and said supporting means normally urging said slidable member and said valve housing downwardly.

3. A method of filling containers having solid articles therein with liquid which comprises moving a series of containers along a single horizontal plane with their open ends uppermost, moving a plurality of liquid iiller valves each having a sealing member in a horizontal plane overlying said rst mentioned plane and a valve head, sequentially lowering said valves during the horizontal movement thereof to engage said containers with said sealing members, applying vacuum to said containers following engagement by said sealing members, holding vacuum in said containers while continuing downward movement of the valve heads so as to open said valves, permitting liquid to enter said containers through said open valves, removing vacuum from said containers while maintaining said valves in lowered open condition so as to continue said filling operation, and then raising and closing said valves.

4. The method as set forth in claim 3 in which vacuum is applied to said valves prior to engagement thereof with said containers.

5. A method of filling containers with liquid which cornprises moving a series of open topped containers along a single horizontal circumferential path of travel of subst-antially 320 from `a pick up point to a take-olf point, said pick up and take-olf point being spaced 30 on opposite sides of a O point of said path of travel, moving a plurality of liquid filler valves each having a sealing head in a horizontal circular plane overlying said first mentioned plane, sequentially lowering said valves during the horizontal movement thereof to engage said containers in a region of the path of travel extending between locations peripherally displaced approximately 30 and from said O point, continuing downw-ard movement of said heads so as to open said valves in a region extending from about a location to a location displaced approximately 280 from said O point and then raising and closing said valves in a region extending from the 280 location to a location displaced approximately 10 Vfrom said O point, applying vacuum to said sealing heads in a region extending substantially from the 30 location to a location displaced approximately 100 from said O point for the evacuation of air from said containers, holding said vacuum in said containers in a region extending from the 100 location to a location displaced approximately from said O point while said valves are open, removing vacuum from said containers in a region extending from the 115 location to a location displaced 280 from `said O point.

6. A method as set forth in claim 5 including applying vacuum to said valves when said valves are closed and out of engagement with said containers in a region extending from lthe 280 location to a location displaced approximately 5 from said O point.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,026,601 l/36 Young 141-7 2,913,016 11/59 Luther 141-7 LAVERNE D. GEI'GER, Primm Examiner. 

3. A METHOD OF FILLING CONTAINERS HAVING SOLID ARTICLES THEREIN WITH LIQUID WHICH COMPRISES MOVING A SERIES OF CONTAINERS ALONG A SINGLE HORIZONTAL PLANE WITH THEIR OPEN ENDS UPPERMOST, MOVING A PLURALITY OF LIQUID FILLER VALVES EACH HAVING A SEALING MEMBER IN A HORIZONTAL PLANE OVERLYING SAID FIRST MENTIONED PLANE AND A VALVE HEAD, SEQUENTIALLY LOWERING SAID VALVES DURING THE HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT THEREOF TO ENGAGE SAID CONTAINERS WITH SAID SEALING MEMBERS, APPLYING VACUUM TO SAID CONTAINERS FOLLOWING ENGAGEMENT BY SAID SEALING MEMBERS, HOLDING VACUUM IN SAID CONTAINERS WHILE CONTINUING DOWNWARD MOVEMENT OF THE VALVE HEADS SO AS TO OPEN SAID VALVES, PERMITTING LIQUID TO ENTER SAID CONTAINERS THROUGH SAID OPEN VALVES, REMOVING VACUUM FROM SAID CONTAINERS WHILE MAINTAINING SAID VALVES IN LOWERED OPEN CONDITION SO AS TO CONTINUE SAID FILLING OPERATION, AND THEN RAISING AND CLOSING SAID VALVES. 